At the Rural Development Resource Center we know that one of the major challenges for rural businesses to succeed is capturing a market outside of the local area.

The Institutional Food Survey
Ag businesses wanting to identify ready markets in order to niche themselves and plan for production to these pre-targeted markets can now utilize data from the Southwest Iowa Institutional Food Survey. Technical assistance with pre and post harvest issues is also available. Contact the office.

The Iowa Sales Network (ISN)
A Web site presence can be an essential element of marketing plan for retailers. The cost in money and time to develop, maintain, advertise the site and fulfill orders can be prohibitive for many businesses with a limited employee base. Businesses currently doing buinesses on line may also see increased sales with a second presence focused on branding southwest Iowa products.

Slated for a fall roll-out, the RDRC staff are ready to begin signing up retailers who would like to pilot this collaborative shopping site. Let others who might be interested know as well. The more diversity and numbers of products, the more this site will attract shoppers.

Contact the office if you would like to have more information on participation. There are no membership or upfront costs to participate in the ISN. Nonprofits with fundraising items for sale that are made in southwest Iowa or have a community theme are also encouraged to participate.

The RDRC will handle the sales from purchase to delivery and dissemenate payment to each vendor on a monthly cycle. A percentage of each sale will be collected to maintain and sustain the site and its advertising.

The ISN will serve entrepreneurs - full-time, part-time and occasional - including:

• artisans and handcrafters, authors, small manufacturers, community non-profits
• food processors packaging such things as sauces, soups, cheese, pastries, candies, gourmet vinegars, home-replacement meals,
• food producers growing produce and livestock such as lettuce, herbs, carrots; hogs, cattle, chickens and rabbits; lavender and roses for potpourri,
• small manufacturers, and
• service providers such as graphics designers, photographers, signage producers, machining, event/party planners, entertainers, storytellers, musicians.